Southwest Airlines Adds 11 New International Routes for 2026 and 2027

Southwest Airlines has announced a bonus for its travelers by expanding its international routes. The airlines will be adding 11 new routes connected to popular holiday destinations. The new routes will take the passengers to five U.S. cities and multiple destinations across Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean starting from November 2026 to June 2027.

Reportedly, this new plan will strengthen the presence of Southwest Airlines in major markets, which will include Las Vegas, Nashville, and Austin, making it easy for the passengers to commute to sunny vacation spots.

Las Vegas Gets a New Route to Mexico

Southwest will introduce this nonstop service between Las Vegas (LAS) and Puerto Vallarta (PVR), Mexico, on November 1, 2026. These places are known for their beaches and famous coastal resorts. For the travelers looking for warm-weather and beachy vibes, Puerto Vallarta is the best destination for them.

This will be another plus point for the passengers with direct routes to the destinations, and it will also strengthen Southwest’s operations in Las Vegas.

Nashville and Austin Welcome More International Flights

Four new international routes will be introduced in Nashville in 2027. Destinations like Liberia and Costa Rica will be getting new Southwest flights in February, followed by Aruba in March. By June, Nassau in the Bahamas and Providenciales in Turks and Caicos will get nonstop service.

One more airport that will be getting benefitted from this expansion is Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). 

The table below specifies which routes will be benefitted from this new expansion, however, specified dates will come out soon.

Columbus and Pittsburgh Add Connections to Punta Cana

By introducing new nonstop flights to Punta Cana from Columbus (CMH) and Pittsburgh (PIT), the passengers will have more options to travel on different places in the Caribbean. 

This expansion will bring a competition between Southwest and Breeze Airways, which already serve Punta Cana in both cities.

Southwest Looks Beyond Budget Travel

With the launching of new routes, Southwest is also working towards improving its passenger experience. For example, the airlines have plans to bring fast internet connections like Starlink Wi-Fi across their fleet and launch their first airport lounges in late 2027. All this contribution towards new plans shows that Southwest is working towards its budget-friendly reputation with the comfort of the travelers.